Sweeping device

ABSTRACT

A sweeping device ( 1 ) having an actuating means ( 6 ), including a surface contacting means ( 2 ), a handle ( 3 ) connected to the surface contacting means and a friction reducing means ( 4, 7 ), in which the friction reducing means is adapted to enable the lifting of the surface contacting means of the sweeping device from the surface being swept or scraped upon user actuation of the actuating means ( 6 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of New Zealand patent applicationSerial No. NZ 330133 filed on Apr. 6, 1998.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a sweeping device and a method of sweeping, inparticular a mechanism for a sweeping device which substantially reducesthe effort of sweeping. The invention also relates to a support meansfor a sweeping device. In particular, although not exclusively, thepresent invention also relates to a support means that may be secured tothe shaft of a broom or a broom stock to enable the broom head to besupported when the broom head is moved.

BACKGROUND ART

Known sweeping devices consist of a surface contacting head and a handleextending from the surface contacting head. When in use the surfacecontacting head is pushed back and forward by way of forces transmittedthrough the handle. In the operation of a sweeping device which has awide surface contacting head a lot of effort must be exerted so as topush the surface contacting head across the surface in reverse andforward strokes. It is also difficult to move the surface contactinghead in a sideways direction.

It is an object of the invention to provide a sweeping device thatsignificantly reduces the effort needed to use a sweeping device,thereby eliminating back and arm strain and to provide a method ofsweeping which overcomes these disadvantages or to at least provide thepublic with a useful choice.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided asweeping device having an actuating means, the sweeping devicecomprising a surface contacting means, a handle connected to the surfacecontacting means and a friction reducing means, in which the frictionreducing means is adapted to enable the lifting of the surfacecontacting means of the sweeping device from the surface being swept orscraped upon, user actuation of the actuating means, in which theactuating means is a sleeve located on the handle of the sweepingdevice.

Preferably, the friction reducing means of the sweeping device isadapted to substantially reduce the effort of a forward and/or reverseand/or a sideways stroke of the sweeping device.

Preferably, the friction reducing means of the sweeping device isconnected to the surface contacting means of the sweeping device.

Preferably, the friction reducing means are wheels provided on armsextending from the surface contacting means.

Preferably, the actuating means, further includes a lock means tooptionally lock the actuating means on the handle of the sweepingdevice.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided asweeping device having an actuating means and a surface containing meansincluding a support means comprising a body portion securable to asweeping device handle or a broom stock and friction reducing meansextending from the body portion which, when the support means is securedto a sweeping device, can selectively be brought into contact with asurface to at least partially support the head of a sweeping device, inwhich the actuating means is a sleeve located on the handle of thesweeping device.

Preferably the support means includes actuating means which adjusts theposition of the friction reducing means when actuated to facilitatesupport of the sweeping device by the friction reducing means. Thefriction reducing means are preferably wheels provided on arms extendingfrom either side of the body portion.

The body portion is preferably secured to a handle of the sweepingdevice by a fastening means which allows securement of the body portionat a selected location along a shaft of the sweeping device. Preferablythe arrangement includes a threaded sleeve which may be screwed on topart of the body to cause portions of the body to be forced towards ashaft of a sweeping device to retain the body portion onto the handle ofthe sweeping device.

The friction reducing means preferably includes a shaft having armsextending from either end to wheels. The shaft may be pivoted by theactuating means to rotate the wheels downwardly towards the contactingmeans of the sweeping device or upwardly away from the contacting meansof the sweeping device. The actuating means is preferably a sleevelinked to the shaft by an adjustable linkage.

In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit,adapted to enable the modification of a traditional sweeping device toincorporate a friction reducing means, the kit comprising a frictionreducing means adapted for fixation to a sweeping device, and anactuating means to enable the lifting of the surface contacting means ofthe sweeping device from the surface being swept or scraped.

In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a methodof substantially reducing the effort involved in employing a sweepingdevice as hereinbefore described, the method comprising employing thefriction reducing means when making a forward and/or reverse and/or asideways stroke of the sweeping device, including a step in which thefriction reducing means is actuated into position by the actuatingmeans.

Further aspects of this invention which should be considered in all itsnovel aspects will become apparent by the following description given byway of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1: Shows a perspective view of a sweeping device according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 2: Shows the sweeping device shown is FIG. 1 when the frictionreducing means is moved to an in use position.

FIG. 3: Shows a front view of the sweeping device shown in FIGS. 1 and2.

FIG. 4: Shows a perspective view of a support means when in use with abroom.

FIG. 5: Shows a partial cross-sectional side view of the support meanswhen engaged with a broom.

FIG. 6: Shows a top view of the support means when secured to a broom.

FIG. 7: Shows a partial rear view of the support means secured to abroom.

FIG. 8: Shows a cross-sectional view of the actuating sleeve.

FIG. 9: Shows a cross-sectional view of the adjustable linkage.

FIG. 10: Shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of asweeping device.

FIG. 11: Shows a side view and an end perspective view of the linkage ofFIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a sweeping device 1 comprising asurface contacting means 2, such as a broom head, and a handle 3. Aframework 4 in the form of a bent steel or plastics rod is pivotallymounted to surface contacting means 2 via fixtures 8. The fixtures 8 canbe integrally moulded into a plastic broom stock or attached to anexisting broom, for example if the broom stock is wooden. The frictionreducing means are wheels 7 provided on arms at either end of theframework 4.

As best shown in FIG. 3, a U shaped portion of framework 4 indicated byindicia 9 passes through an aperture in the end of shaft 5. The otherend of shaft 5 is connected to sleeve 6 which is slidable along handle3. Movement of sleeve 6 towards broom head 2 causes framework 4 torotate so as to raise wheels 7. Movement of sleeve 6 away from broomhead 2 causes framework 4 to rotate so as to lower wheels 7.

Although in this embodiment the surface contacting means 2 is seen to beprovided with the plurality of bristles it is to be appreciated that theinvention is applicable to devices incorporating other surfacecontacting means such as sponges, scrapers etc. The framework 4 havingarms extending to the wheels 7 may be adapted so that the height of thesurface contacting means 2 above the ground surface can be adjustedrelative to the friction reducing means by providing adjustableextensions on the arms of framework 4. Accordingly the friction reducingmeans can be employed on brooms having different lengths of bristles.

In use the sweeping device 1 may be held by sleeve 6 so that when thebroom is pushed forward wheels 7 are raised to the position shown inFIG. 1 so that the surface contacting means 2 contacts the surface to becleaned. On the backwards-stroke the backward movement of sleeve 6causes framework 4 to rotate and place wheels 7 in the lowered positionshown in FIG. 2. In this position the wheels carry the weight of thesurface contacting means 2 for the backwards stroke. It also facilitateseasy sidewards movement of the surface contacting means 2.

The device may be configured so that the surface contacting means 2contacts the surface to be cleaned during the backwards stroke with thesurface contacting means 2 being supported by the wheels on the forwardstroke. To achieve this the U section shown in area 9 is positioned onthe other side of handle 3 (ie. U section 9 passes underneath handle 3).In this configuration the wheels are forced down to the in use positionshown in FIG. 2 when sleeve 6 is pushed towards broom head 2. Whensleeve 6 is pulled away from broom head 2 the wheels 7 are retracted tothe out of use position shown in FIG. 1. On the forward sweep sleeve 6is pushed towards broom head 2 and so lowers wheels 7 to the in useposition shown in FIG. 2 allowing the broom head to be easily moved inthe forward direction. For a backward sweep sleeve 6 is moved away frombroom head 2 and the wheels are raised to the position shown in FIG. 1so that the broom contacts the surface to be swept.

Wheels 7 are preferably castor wheels so that the sweeping device may bemoved in any desired direction. Wheels 7 may be replaced by otherfriction reducing means such as rollers where, for example, asphalt orconcrete is being laid and levelled out. Alternatively, wheels 7 may bereplaced by skids, depending upon the surface which is to be swept orscraped.

The above described embodiment is preferred, however an alternativeembodiment will now be described.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7 there is shown a support means 10 secured to abroom comprising a broom head 2 and a handle 3. The support means 10consists of a body portion 11, an actuating sleeve 6, a linkage 12 andfriction reducing means in the form of a shaft 13 and wheels 7.

Body portion 11 has a bore 14 formed therein dimensioned to receive theshaft of the broom handle 3. When body 11 is appropriately positionedalong the shaft of handle 3 a fastening means secures body portion 11 inplace. In this example the fastening means is in the form of a threadedsleeve 15 which is screwed upon a complimentary threaded portion 16 ofbody 11. A number of slots 17 are cut into the upper end of threadedsection 16 defining a number of fingers 18. Threaded sleeve 15 has aramped portion 19 abutting ramped portion 20 of threaded section 12. Asthreaded sleeve 15 is rotated clockwise the ramped portions 19 and 20act to force fingers 18 towards handle 2 to secure body 11 to handle 2.By tightening and untightening the threaded sleeve 15 body 11 mayselectively be secured or released from handle 2. In this way body 11may be moved to a desired point along handle 2 and secured in place bytightening threaded sleeve 15. This enables the support means to belocated at the correct position for any broom.

Along a bottom edge of body portion 11 are provided a number of clipsections 21, the shape of which are best shown in cross-section in FIG.5.

Shaft 13 can be snapped into clips 21 and when located in the positionshown in FIG. 5 is pivotable about clips 21. A loop section 22 of shaft13 extends upwardly above handle 3 and is connected via linkage 12 toactuator 6.

Movement of actuating sleeve 6 along handle 3 towards broom head 2forces loop 22 forward and rotates wheels 7 upwards. Movement ofactuating sleeve 6 away from broom head 2 moves loop 22 backwards andcauses wheels 7 to rotate downwardly to the position shown in FIGS. 4 to8.

The actuating sleeve is shown in cross section in FIG. 8. Actuatingsleeve 6 is connected at one end to linkage 12 and at the other end hasa sleeve 23 which is rotatable relative to actuating sleeve if it isdesired to lock actuating sleeve 6 with respect to handle 3.

FIG. 9 shows adjustable linkage 12 in cross section. Linkage 12 is seento include a locking mechanism 24, similar to the one provided on bodyportion 11, to enable adjustment of shaft sections 25 and 26 to setlinkage 12 to a desired length. End 27 is designed to clip lock ontoloop 22.

In use, a user holds onto actuating sleeve 6 so that when the broom ispushed forward loop 22 is forced towards broom head 2 via linkage 12.This raises wheels 7 and enables the broom head 2 to sweep the floor.When a user pulls backwards on actuating sleeve 6 loop 22 is rotatedaway from broom head 2 and lowers wheels 7 to the position shown in FIG.5. The broom head may be lifted clear of the floor and supported by thesupport means so that the broom may be easily moved without undueeffort.

It will also be appreciated that alternative locking devices may be usedto secure the support means to a shaft or that the support means may beintegrally formed with a shaft. Further, linkage 12 may be of apredetermined length when the support means is designed for a particulartype of broom. Furthermore the linkage 12 may be adjustable in length tosuit a range of heights of users. The adjustment may be provided bytelescopic means or other known extension means.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a further embodiment of a sweeping device. Theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 has an inverted “U” shapedlinkage 28 between actuating sleeve 6 and loop 22.

A stopping means 29 is also optionally located on the linkage 28. Thestopping means 29 is adapted to abut against a stopper 30 located onbody portion 11 when the actuating sleeve is pushed to its requiredmaximum extent down the handle 3 towards broom head 2.

Additionally, the stopper 30 on body portion 11 is adapted to act as astopping means when the sleeve 6 is pulled to its required maximumextent up handle 3 away from broom head 2, until either loop 22 orlinkage 28 abuts the stopper 30.

Linkage 28 is connected to loop 22 by a clip 31 which is adapted to lockonto loop 22 as illustrated in FIG. 11.

Additionally, in FIG. 10 a locking means 32 on the actuating sleeve 6can be employed if it is envisaged that one needs to lock the movementof the actuating sleeve relative to handle 3. Such a lock can be, forexample a cam lever which bites onto handle 3 through an orifice 33 inthe actuating sleeve 6.

Further, it will be appreciated that the invention may be used with avariety of other implements, such as mops, and a broom is describedherein purely by way of example. The support means may be sold as aseparate unit or attached to a broom etc or be integrally formedtherewith. Furthermore, the support means may be connected to thesurface contacting means by fixtures similar to that illustrated in FIG.1.

Sweeping devices incorporating the friction reducing means of theinvention may be sold in combination or the friction reducing means andactuating means may be sold separately as a kit enabling existingsweeping devices to be modified to include the device of the invention.

The construction materials of the device of the invention can includeplastics, aluminium, steel or fibreglass.

It will be appreciated that the actuating mechanism in the form of theactuating sleeve 6 and shaft 5 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 or actuating sleeve6 and linkage 12 in FIGS. 4 to 9 or actuating sleeve 6 and linkage 28 inFIGS. 10 and 11 may be replaced by other actuating means, such as asolenoid actuated by an electrical switch or a hydraulic or pneumaticarrangement.

It will be appreciated that the friction reducing means such as wheels 7may be located at the front, back, rear or sides of the broom. However,location of the wheels at the rear of the broom is particularlypreferred due to its ease of operation and due to the fact that itavoids the wheels engaging upright surfaces.

It will also be appreciated that a combination of features of thedescribed embodiments could be selected to produce further alternativeembodiments.

The invention provides a sweeping device which significantly reduces theeffort required in sweeping. The invention is of particular benefitwhere large industrial size sweeping devices are used.

It is envisaged that the sweeping device of the invention may beemployed for a number of different purposes. It is envisaged, forexample, that the device may be employed to sweep water from cricketfields. Such a device would assist in reducing the effort required forsuch a task.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integersand elements having known equivalents, then such equivalents areincorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and withreference to possible embodiments thereof, it is to be understood thatmodifications and improvements may be made without departing from thescope of the invention.

What we claim is:
 1. A sweeping device having an actuating means, thesweeping device including a surface contacting means, a handle connectedto the surface contacting means and a friction reducing means, in whichthe friction reducing means is adapted to enable the lifting of thesurface contacting means of the sweeping device from the surface beingswept or scraped upon user actuation of the actuating means, in whichthe actuating means is a sleeve located on the handle of the sweepingdevice.
 2. A sweeping device according to claim 1, in which the frictionreducing means is adapted to substantially, reduce the effort of aforward and/or reverse and/or a sideways stroke of the sweeping device.3. A sweeping device according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which thefriction reducing means is located on the surface contacting means ofthe sweeping device.
 4. A sweeping device according to claim 1 in whichthe actuating means is moveable along the handle of the sweeping devicein a forward or backward direction relative to the surface contactingmeans.
 5. A sweeping device according to claim 4 in which the actuatingmeans further includes a lock means to lock the actuating means on thehandle of the sweeping device.
 6. A sweeping device according to claim 1in which the friction reducing means are wheels provided on armsextending from the surface contacting means.
 7. A sweeping deviceaccording to claim 6 in which the arms are adjustable in length toprovide a range of elevations of the surface contacting means relativeto the friction reducing means.
 8. A sweeping device according to claim6 or claim 7 including a shaft having the arms extending from either andto support the wheels, the actuating means being adapted to pivot theshaft to rotate the wheels downwardly towards the contacting means ofthe sweeping device or upwardly away from the contacting means of thesweeping device.
 9. A sweeping device according to claim 8 in which theshaft is linked to the actuating means by an adjustable linkage.
 10. Asweeping device having an actuating means and a surface contactingmeans, including a support member comprising a body portion securable toa handle or a stock of the sweeping device and friction reducing meansextending from the body portion of the support means which, when thesupport means is secured to a sweeping device, can selectively bebrought into contact with a surface to at least partially support thehead of a sweeping device, by user actuation of the actuating means, inwhich the actuating means is a sleeve located on the handle of thesweeping device.
 11. A sweeping device a according to claim 10 in whichthe actuating means is adapted to adjust the position of the frictionreducing means upon actuation to facilitate support of the sweepingdevice by the friction reducing means.
 12. A sweeping device accordingto claim 10 or claim 11 in which the friction reducing means ispreferably one or more wheels provided on arms extending from eitherside of the body portion.
 13. A sweeping device according to claim 10 inwhich the body portion is secured to the handle of the sweeping deviceby a fastening means which allows securement of the body portion at aselected location along the handle of the sweeping device.
 14. Asweeping device a according to claim 13 in which the fastening means ofthe body portion of the sweeping device includes a threaded sleeve whichmay be screwed onto part of the body to cause portions of the body to beforced towards the handle of the sweeping device to retain the bodyportion on the handle of the sweeping device.
 15. A sweeping deviceaccording to claim 10 in which the friction reducing means includes ashaft having arms extending from either end to support the wheels, theactuating means being adapted to pivot the shaft to rotate the wheelsdownwardly towards the contacting means of the sweeping device orupwardly away from the contacting means of the sweeping device.
 16. Asweeping device according to claim 10 in which the actuating sleeve islinked to the shaft by an adjustable linkage.
 17. A sweeping deviceaccording to claim 16 in which the actuating means further includes alock means to lock the actuating means on the handle of the sweepingdevice.
 18. A kit adapted to enable the modification of a traditionalsweeping device to incorporate a friction reducing means, including afriction reducing means adapted for fixation to a sweeping device and anactuating means comprising a sleeve located on the handle of thesweeping device to enable the lifting of the surface contacting means ofthe sweeping device from the surface being swept or scraped.
 19. Amethod of substantially reducing the effort involved in employing asweeping device according to claim 1 or claim 10, the method comprisingemploying the friction reducing means when making a forward and/orreverse and/or a sideways stroke of the sweeping device, including astep in which the friction reducing means is actuated into position bythe actuating means.